Health and Safety policy
Health and Safety Policy for Man with Van Canonbury
Man with Van Canonbury is committed to providing removal and delivery services in a manner that protects the health, safety and welfare of our employees, subcontractors, customers and members of the public. This Health and Safety Policy sets out our approach to managing risks associated with moving, transporting and delivering household and commercial goods.
Our Health and Safety Objectives
Our primary objectives are to prevent injury, ill health, damage to property and avoidable disruption to our customers. We aim to achieve this by identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing proportionate control measures for all tasks linked to our man and van and removal services.
We will continually seek to improve our performance, learn from experience, and follow all relevant health and safety legislation and industry good practice applicable to the removals and light transport sector.
Management Responsibilities
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective health and safety arrangements. This includes:
Setting clear safety standards for all lifting, carrying, loading, unloading and driving activities.
Ensuring that work is planned so that risks are understood and controlled before tasks begin.
Providing suitable equipment, vehicles and protective measures for the type of removal work undertaken.
Ensuring that all team members receive appropriate information, instruction and training.
Reviewing accidents, incidents, near misses and feedback, and updating procedures where required.
Employee and Subcontractor Responsibilities
All employees and subcontractors working for Man with Van Canonbury have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They are expected to:
Follow company procedures and safe systems of work at all times.
Use vehicles, tools, lifting aids and protective equipment correctly and only for their intended purpose.
Report hazards, accidents, near misses and unsafe conditions immediately so that they can be addressed.
Cooperate with management in implementing health and safety improvements and attending relevant training.
Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices
Before carrying out any removal or delivery task, we assess the potential risks involved. This includes considering the size, weight and nature of items, access conditions at collection and delivery addresses, vehicle loading capacity and travel routes.
Where significant risks are identified, we introduce controls to reduce them. These may include planning additional manpower, using trolleys and other handling aids, breaking down loads into smaller units or adjusting the route and parking arrangements.
All tasks are carried out according to safe working practices that are regularly reviewed and updated as our services and circumstances evolve.
Manual Handling and Lifting
Manual handling is central to our work and is treated as a key health and safety priority. To minimise the risk of strains, sprains and other musculoskeletal injuries, we:
Train staff in correct lifting and carrying techniques, including team lifts for heavy or awkward items.
Encourage assessment of each lift in terms of weight, shape, grip and distance before starting.
Use handling equipment where practical, such as sack trucks, dollies and straps.
Avoid lifting loads that are beyond safe capability and decline to move items that present unacceptable risk.
Vehicle Safety and Driving Standards
Our vehicles are essential to our moving and transport services and must be operated safely at all times. We are committed to:
Maintaining vehicles in a roadworthy condition through regular checks, servicing and prompt repair of defects.
Ensuring drivers hold the appropriate licence and are competent for the vehicles they operate.
Planning journeys to allow sufficient time, avoiding pressure that could encourage unsafe driving.
Securing loads properly to prevent movement, damage or risk to road users during transit.
Complying with speed limits, parking rules and all relevant road traffic regulations in every service area we operate.
Customer Premises and Public Safety
We recognise our duty to protect customers, visitors, neighbours and the general public when carrying out removal or delivery work. To achieve this, we:
Take care when moving items through communal areas, stairwells and corridors.
Use safe methods when handling large or bulky furniture near doorways, windows and access paths.
Place ramps, boards and protective coverings securely to prevent trips and slips.
Organise parking and loading so as not to create unnecessary obstruction or danger to other road users and pedestrians.
Equipment, Vehicles and Personal Protective Equipment
Man with Van Canonbury provides suitable equipment and, where appropriate, personal protective equipment to support safe operations. This may include handling aids, gloves and other items relevant to the specific nature of the job.
Equipment is inspected regularly, and any item that is damaged or defective is taken out of service until repaired or replaced. Staff are required to use equipment correctly and report any concerns immediately.
Training, Information and Supervision
We ensure that everyone involved in providing our services understands their health and safety responsibilities. This is supported through:
Induction for new team members, covering our policy, procedures and expectations.
Ongoing training in manual handling, safe loading and unloading and awareness of typical risks associated with removal work.
Supervision and guidance for less experienced staff until they are competent to work independently.
Incident Reporting and Policy Review
All accidents, incidents and near misses are recorded and reviewed, with the aim of preventing recurrence. Where necessary, we will revise our risk assessments, procedures and training content in light of lessons learned.
This Health and Safety Policy is reviewed regularly and updated whenever there are significant changes to our operations, legal requirements or best practice within the removal and transport industry.
Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Man with Van Canonbury is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. We welcome feedback from employees, subcontractors and customers on any aspect of our working practices that could be made safer or more efficient. By working together, we aim to deliver reliable man and van and removal services while maintaining a safe environment for everyone involved.
